Concrete-molding machine.



J. G. DUNTON. GQNGRETB MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 190B.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

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J. C. DUNTON.

CONCRETE MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATwN FILED SBPT,5.190B.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fo 71 n @.U, n von J. C. DUNTON.

CONCRETE MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5,

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ja/717 aga/Mon N3 l w Ta J. C. DUNTON.

CONCRETE MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.5.1908.

Patented @10.22, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IJNI I" CONCRETE-HOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Feb. 22?, 19MB.

Application led September 5, 1908. Serial No. 451,911.

To all whom@ may concer/rt.'

Be it known that I, JOHN G. DUN'loN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigam'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete- Molding Machines, of which the following.

is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for manufacturing `concrete brick, and its objects are: First, to provide a convenient and expeditious means for tamping the concrete into the molds. Second, to provide a means whereby any ornamental face may be readily placed upon brick and with practically no greater expense than for manufacturingplain-brick. Third, to provide a means whereby a fancy stonev face may be placed upon the brick, 1n natural colors and at practically no greater expense than for constructing plain brick. Fourthto provide a means whereby pillars, cornice blocks, corner stones and concrete walls may be manufactured and thoroughly tamped without the use of a tamping bar, and, fifth, t0 provide a means whereby columns &c., may be made to represent varicolored laminated stone work.

I attain these objects by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing 1n which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with which these objects may be attained. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the same showing the manner of spraying the molds in which ordinary brick are to be made. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the same with the upper molds removed to expose the inner works and spraying mechanism. Fig. 4 is a plan of the conveyer belt and its supporting tracks. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine showing one of the many processes by which the conveyor chain may be actuated. Fig. 6 is a plan of the mold with the adjustable bottom plates in place. Fig. 7 is a plan of the bottom plates removed from the mold. Fig. 8 is a section of the mold on the line y y of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a section of the same on the line .fr .fr of Fig. S. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation showing how this process may be ap lied for constructing concrete spiles for ock or breakwater' construction.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The germ of my invention lies inthe process of tamping or packing the plastic concrete into the mold in which the brick, column, or other object is formed,by which I am enabled to place any form of ornamental face upon the brickfto face the brick with natural stone color and grain, to build up columns in dierent strata showing a variety of intermingling colors .giving the natural stone effect, and I find that the machinery herewith illustrated is well adapted to successfully bring about the desired eff ect either as to compactness of structure, ornamental face construction or natural stone surface eect.

In the construction of a machine to successfully carry out this process it is desirable, first, to provide an endless line of moving molds in which to form the brick, when constructing brick, and t'hese molds must be provided with movable bottoms that may be, automatically, moved from a depth of mold sutlicient to form the size of brick desired to a position flush with the outer edges of the molds, and a means must be provided for forcing the plastic concrete solidly into the molds,and also for forcing the desired face finish into the mold at the proper time and in the desired position.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the molds C united into a continuous line of molds by means of the links c, the molds being provided with small rollers or wheels C that travel upon the tracks H I-I in such a manner as to produce the least possible friction in the movement of the molds. These tracks are secured to the frames A A in such a position that the wheels C will properly engage ythefconveyer or sprocket wheels B B which are supported upon shafts B that are journaled in the frames A A, and the wheels B are, preferably,

`mounted in an adjustable boX B that is so arranged that, with theproper manipulation of the set screws o Z), the wheels B may be so adjusted as to properly adjust the endless chain of molds C C. The molds C are divided by partitions c into compartments for molding several brick in each mold, and adjustable bottoms Gr are placed in these compartments in such a manner that they may be m`ade to move back and forth the width of a brick, the back or inner ends being supported upon a shaft g that slides freely 1n the slots o' in the sides of the mold, to guide the bottoms G in their movements in the molds. The shaft g may be secured in the ends of the bottoms by any available means as, for inst-ance, the set screw g, shown in Fig. 8.

The bottoms G are su ported upon, and actuated by the tracks G" as follows: These tracks, from the point G in Fig. 1, stand in the proper position to hold the bottoms G in the molds, just the width of the object to be molded, until it reaches a point directly below the shaft B", whence the portion G" inclines downward until it reaches a point directly under the shaft B" that supports the wheel B', where 1t vhas reached a position that will cause the bottoms G to force the britk I'entirey (ut of the mold u n a proper y prepare p aque, as I', whicliO position is held by the track until the mold reaches a point exactly opposite when it-inclines downward to the point G. By this means the bottoms G are held so that they must gradually drop as the plastic concrete is being forced into the molds, as indicated in the molds C', shown in section in Fig. l. In Fig. l I -have shown the incline of the portion G" of the track, somewhat vexaggerated to more fully illustrate the action of the molds, but have shown said incline about as it should normally be in Fig. 5. It will be readily seen that with this arrangement of parts the bottoms G will begin to press downward upon the molded brick as soon as they have reached the lower portion of the vertical center line of the wheel B and will gradually continue to press themout Vuntil they are wholly clear of the molds by the time they have reached the lower portion of the vertical center line of the wheel B where they are wholly su ported upon the plaques I. The plaques IPmust be so manipulated that they will move exactly in time with the molds, and for this purpose I find the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 to be very efficient, though I am not, by any means, restrict/ed to this construction as many other available lines of mechanism may be used with equally good results. In this figure I have shown the plaques stored in a properly prepared receptacle, as L, in position so that as one is carried along b y the chain L another will drop down upon the chain and be carried along by the fingers Z to a point exactly under the mold from which a brick is to be deposited upon said plaque, and so on ad inmtum. The chain L is supported, and slides freely on the tracks M and, in

this instance, is` provided with upwardlyv extending arms Z Z placed lin posltion to be engaged by short projections f or pins 0 on the ends of the molds, so placed that the chain and plaques must move in exact unison with the molds until the bricks are entirely removed from the molds and the plagues are removed from the chain. The

chainsL may be supported and conveyed by *tween theouter walls thereo any suitable form of sprocket wheel, as shown at J in Fig. 5.

The portion A of the frames A is designed to receive and support any suitable form of guard above the molds, not deemed necessary to show as they are simply inciends at j so arran ed that they may be slid' together and ma e to interlock after thev manner of ordinary malleable iron conveyer chains, and the plaques are, or may be pro vided with offsets Z for the reception of the fingers Z.,

Coming now to the process by which the bricks, or other articles are manufactured, the ingredients from which they are made are placed into any available form of mixing device, as indicated by the material D' entering and being carried through the mixer D, in Fig. 1 untll it drops through the open gates at Z into the conveyer spouts F and down through said spouts into the molds C as indicated in Fig. l. It is understood that the material D is wet to thc proper temper before it is placed into the mixer sov that when it enters the mold it is ready for tamping solidly into the mold, and it is further understood that the simple dropping of the material from any reasonable height would not be sufficient to properly pack it in the molds, and to facilitate this action I use a Very strong blower, as E, having a commodious conveyer pipe E from which small branches e e lead into the s outs F F beand the inner walls F', through which the material enters the main spout F, and in such a manner that les all air that enters the spout must be directed petus to the material as soon as it has passed the lower end of the spout F', to force it downward into the molds with great velocity so that when the material enters the molds and is stopped by striking the bottom or preceding material it will become thoroughly and solidly packed. As it would not do to allow ytheheavy current of air that enters the 'spout to pass into the molds, I have provided for its escape in the directlon ofthe arrows in Fig.v 1 by placing openings f f in the spout a lsuiicient distance above 'the molds to'avert all danger of the current of air havingv any detrimental effect upon the molded material.

In Fig. 1 d represents gates that may be opened or shut to regulate the flow of material through the spouts F, and d' represents levers with which to manipulate said gates and D represents the belt that drives the mixer.

The description thus far describes the process for making plain concrete brick. When desiring to place a natural stone face upon the brick I pulverize the desired stone to a very fine powder and thoroughly wash the powder toremove foreign dust and give to thepowder the proper color. I place this powder in any' suitable hopper,` as F", which should terminate in a small spout enteringthe spout F at or near the lower end F, and connect the blower E with this spoilt by means of a very small air spout e which will force the pulverized stone through the c spout e into the molds C and form a thin coating in the bottom of the mold, as at D, which is packed to place and made .to adhere firmly to the incoming concrete as it is forced to place in the molds by the air current, as-hereinbefore described. When providing for forming an ornamental face upon the brick the ornament, whatever it may be, is formed upon or cut from the face of the backs Gr, and the material that is to form the ornament may be placed upon said face as hereinbefore described, or 1n any other available manner.

It is necessary to thoroughly wash out the molds after use, each time, and for this purpose I provide a water pipe N through which water is to flow at considerable pressure, and place very fine spraying points N upon the ends of the pipe in position so that a very fine spray of water will be forced into the molds back of the bottoms Gr G, and with sufficient force so that a considerable water will be forced through between the edges of the bottoms G and the walls of the mold and will wash the outer face of the bottom G, as indicated at N in Fig. 2.

If desired dry steam may be substituted for air pressure for forcing the plastic concrete into the molds, and in many instances it is preferable, though not so for forcing the pulverized stone, &c., from the hopper F, as this pulverized stone should enter the mold as dry as possible so that it will be properly distributed over the face of the bottoms G, where the water with which the molds have been washed will hold it until the plastic concrete is forced in upon it, thus the washing of the molds acts a double purpose: first, to thoroughly clean the molds and render the surface slippery upon the introduction of the plastic concrete so that the finished brick will slide out readily, and, second, to cause the dry ulverized stone to adhere to the mold suiiiclently to retain its position and shape until secured to place with the incoming concrete, when, in addition, it causes the piilverized stone to adhere firmly to, and become a concrete part of the incoming concrete and at the same time retain its natural stone color.

In Fig. 3 b and b represent the tight and loose pulleys with which the machine is drivenand P represents small antifriction rollers or wheels on the shaft g, designed to travel upon the tracks Gr G, to reduce the friction of the bottoms of the molds, traveling over the tracks, to the minimum.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a vertical section of an auxiliary tube R which is designed to be immersed in water, as indicated, and well into the sandy bottom of a body of water. when the water and sand that is contained in this tube is removed and a mold, as R, for forming a concrete spile in which D' represents the concrete being forced from the spout F into the mold R, and Q represents the base of the spile with the mold R partly raised. T represents a. windlass for raising the mold R as the spile is being formed, and S represents reinforcing rods in the spile, common in the construction of concrete spiles, posts and kindred articles.

This process of tamping concrete is susceptible of successful use, not only in the construction of brick, spiles and kindred articles, but may be as successfully used in the construction or format-ion of concrete floors, cornice, inside finish, ceilings, walls,

and, second, to press the upper surface of the concrete down into the molds for the purpose of forming a. pro-per surface on the brick, and of more thoroughly compressing the back portion of the brick than would be possible with only the compression produced by the current of air in the spouts F. lVhen I desire to have particularly tine surfaces upon the back of the brick I place an adjustable trowel, as O upon the plow carriage in position to be made to bear upon the surface as heavily or lightly as desired, by manipulating the set screw 0. It is often desirable, and very advantageous, especially in spile, wall or column construction, to dro-p the pulverized ingredients for the concrete into the tamping spout F,

in a dry state and to intermingle the moistening element, as water` saturated steam, &c., with the dry ingredient-s as they fall into the spout and before they reach the base of construction, or mold, and for this purpose I sometimes attach a. water pipe, as shown at U in Fig. 10, in such a position that water or steam may be made to enter the spout, practically, with the pulverized ingredients to moisten them as they are passing through the spout to the mold, and to insure the proper proportions of water to t-hc ingredients a valve, as Uf may be placed in the pipo U, that ma)v be opened and close-d as desired or needed, it being understood that if Water is used it should be under sufiicient pressure to produce a perfect spray as it enters the spout F.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire yto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a machine for making brick, an endless chain of molds, vertically movable bottoms in said molds, tracks for support-ing the molds and having portions inclined from thehor'izontal to move the bottoms vertically as the molds move horizontally, a hopper for containing specially prepared facing material for the brick, means for forcing said material into the molds before the brick materlal 1s forced 1n, a mlxer and carrler located above the molds, and spouts for conveying material from the mixer to the molds, means for packing the material in the molds, an endless chain and plaques below the molds for conveying the brick from the machine, and means for forcing the completed brick from the molds to the plaques.

2. In a machine for forming articles from cement concrete, a rotary mixer, molds for forming the articles, spouts leading from the mixer to the molds, means for forcing a heavy draft of air through the spout, and vents for the. escape of the air before it reaches the molds.

3. In the manufact-ure of brick, a machine constructed with anl endless chain of molds,

and a receptacle for storing the plaques and discharging them upon the cham, a mixer and spouts above the molds, and a blower to produce a forced draft into the molds, said spouts provided with 'upwardly inclined.

vents for the escape of air before it reaches the material in the molds.k

4. In combination with a concrete mixer, a mold, a spout leadin from the mixer to the mold and having ackwardly inclined vents near the mold, and means for forcing a heavy draft into the spout near the mixer to able bottoms in said molds, tracks and' guides for actuating said bottoms to receive and discharge the concrete, sprays for Washing the moving molds, spouts leading from the mixer to the mold and having back- Wardly inclined vents, and means for forcing a heavy draft into the spouts near the mixer to force the concrete into the molds, the draft escapin through the vents before reaching the mold-s.

6. In combination with a concrete mixer, an endless chain of moving molds, vertically adjustable bottoms in the molds, spouts leading from the mixer to the molds and having backwardlyinclined vents near the molds, a blower forforcing a heavy draft of air into the spouts near the mixer to force the concrete into the molds, the draft escaping out of the vents before reaching the molds, a hopper for containing Washed stone dust, and a blower for forcing said stone dust into the molds before the concrete is forced in, to form ornamental faces upon the molded concrete as it enters the several molds.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 31, 190s.

JOHN C. DUNTON.

In presence of ITHIEL J. CILLEY, L. C. WARE. 

